Jackman, Peters nab Tonys

Special awards to go to actors, Equity

Hugh Jackman, Bernadette Peters and legit thesps’ union Actors’ Equity Association will each receive a special kudo at the Tony Awards ceremony this year.

Peters, seen on the Rialto earlier this season in the revival of “Follies,” will take home the Isabelle Stevenson Award, a laurel for a legiter who’s made a notable contribution to humanitarian and charitable causes. Peters wins the honors for extracurricular activities that include the co-founding of Broadway Barks!, a program that promotes pet adoptions from animal shelters, as well as work with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Actors Fund of America and education org Standing Tall.

Receiving one of the evening’s two Special Tony Awards, Equity gets the laurel just as the union, which negotiates labor contracts for both actors and stage managers with commerical and nonprofit producing orgs of all sizes, kicks off a yearlong celebration of its 100th anniversary. Jackman, a well-liked fave in the theater industry, scores the kudo for his contributions to the Main Stem community as well as his commitment to charity.

Jackman appeared on Broadway in a B.O.-busting song-and-dance showcase in the fall, but he’s not eligible for a thesping award this year because producers didn’t invite the awards organizers, opting to sell those limited-run seats instead.

Tonys announce nominations in competitive categories May 1, with the ceremony set to be broadcast live on CBS from the Beacon Theater June 10.